Kade loved shopping. How had she forgotten that? This was the fifth store he’d dragged her to. Retail therapy. Here he was, taking his sweet time, examining every little thing, when she was going out of her mind, watching every face in the crowd, seeing the serial killer hiding in corners, just waiting to snatch her. How was Kade so calm?
“I think we have enough.” She gripped the handle of the shopping cart so tightly her knuckles were white. “We need to be back before they deliver the tree.”
Kade turned and frowned. The lukewarm smile she offered made him frown harder. “What’s wrong? You love Christmas shopping.”
“Are you sure we should be out here, in the open?”
“Angel, you’re surrounded by a team of ex-military as well as an FBI agent. You’re safe. Look, there’s Watkins, just a few feet away. His job is to be wherever you are. He’s not going to let anyone get close to you. If I thought there was any danger, I wouldn’t have brought you out.”
Angel spotted the security guard lounging by the tree display. He looked like he wasn’t paying attention to anything. She had to trust that Kade was right and she was safe surrounded by her own personal security team. Target during the holidays was one of her favorite stores, and she was letting her own paranoia ruin it for her.
She turned her attention back to the Christmas ornaments and picked up a box of purple bulbs. The sound of disgust from Kade made her turn a baleful eye on him. “What?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“No, you just made that noise you do when you want to say something and are biting your tongue instead.”
“Well, why don’t we mix in some white and blue, maybe red or green? You know some traditional Christmas colors.”
“I like purple.”
“I know.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m just suggesting an alternate color scheme.”
“It needs to be color coordinated. Red and purple don’t mix.” He hated purple, and she knew it. That was part of the reason she’d been picking out all purple stuff. Just to piss him off. It was cute when he got all aggravated.
He sighed and adopted a martyred expression. “The things I do for you, woman. Next year, we are doing a traditional tree.”
He was banking on a next year, was he? Kade always had been a smug, cocky bastard. She hadn’t even decided if she was going to try to give them a chance or not, and here he was making plans.
His hip bumped hers, and she looked up, startled. He was holding a mistletoe over her head, a wicked grin telling her he was up to no good. “I think the tradition calls for a kiss, don’t you?”
“What happened to you not touching me until I touch you?” She arched a brow, barely containing her laughter. He could be such a charmer.
“Well, we can’t ignore a Christmas tradition, now, can we?” He smirked, leaning in closer.
She took a step back, leaving him to stumble forward. “We sure can.” She turned the buggy and went to the next aisle where the stockings were, unable to control her laughter when she heard him cursing in both English and Russian.
“Not nice, Angel, not nice,” he whispered in her ear. The tickle of his breath teased her earlobe, sending a shiver through her.
“Hey!” The indignant shout made them both look toward the end of the aisle where the security guys had detained a tall, blond guy. His blue eyes were shooting daggers. “Kade, some help, please?”
Kade laughed and a real smile lit up his face. “It’s fine, gentlemen. This is my brother, Dimitri.”
“Asshole.” Dimitri enfolded Kade in a bear hug. “You could have warned me when I texted you that you had some of Viktor’s thugs with you.”
“What’s the fun in that? Besides, I wanted to show Angel she was perfectly safe surrounded by Viktor’s thugs. What better way than to let them tackle you?”
Dimitri turned to Angel and smiled. “Privet, sestrenka.”
Dimitri was not what she expected. He didn’t look a thing like Kade, Nik, or Viktor. He resembled some blond Norse god, with glacier blue eyes. Now, if only she knew what the hell he’d just said to her.
“It means, loosely translated, ‘hello, little sister.’” Dimitri gave her the same bear hug he had Kade. “Welcome to the family. I know I’m six years late, but welcome all the same.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, a little unnerved by his welcome. She and Kade hadn’t been man and wife in a long time, but it didn’t seem to matter to his family.
“Are you guys about done? I am starving, and I saw an Italian place across the street that looks good.”
“Angel?”
“I’m done.” She was hungry. Given everything that had been going on, she’d barely eaten.
She listened to the brothers chat while they stood in the checkout line. It was obvious how close they were. Their easy banter and insults attested to it. Dimitri was the next oldest, so he and Kade were closer in age than the rest of them. They’d probably ganged up on the smaller ones and ruled the roost growing up. She smiled, thinking about it.
Once they’d loaded all the bags into the SUV, they decided to walk across the street. It was easier to leave the car here instead of trying to find new parking. The holiday shoppers were out in force, and it was a nightmare.
Bella Luna was crowded. The hostess assured them they’d be seated within the next twenty minutes or so. Her stomach protested loudly when Kade asked if they should go somewhere else. Dimitri laughed at her obvious embarrassment.
“The bottomless pit speaks,” Kade teased.
“I’m hungry,” she defended. “And it smells so good.”
“It smells divine.” Dimitri’s head swiveled when the waitress passed. She winked at him, but he wasn’t looking at her. He was looking at the plate of mussels she was carrying, and his own stomach growled. “We’re not going anywhere.”
“See, I’m not the only one with a bottomless pit.” She stuck her tongue out at Kade, feeling relaxed and happy for the first time in forever.
Dimitri patted his stomach. “This fucker determines my schedule for the day. I need to be near food. I even keep a stocked fridge in the office with a shelf of snacks. Got to feed the muses while I write.”
Angel eyed his near perfect abs. If he ate like that, he had to have a metabolism out of this world.
“His two hour exercise regimen every morning helps,” Kade said dryly when he saw Angel staring pointedly at his brother’s physique.
“True. I exercise just so I can eat what I want. I really should have been a chef.” Dimitri’s nose flared as another waiter passed by with a tray laden with steaming hot food. “Damn, I’m starved.”
Angel shook her head and stopped one of the wait staff to inquire about the bathrooms. She had to go in a bad way. There was no waiting until they were seated. She’d laughed too much, and her bladder was protesting.
“Just hurry. Our table should be up soon.”
“I’ll go with you. I need the facilities myself.” Dimitri fell into step beside her as they weaved through the dining room and toward the back of the restaurant where the restrooms were down a little side hall.
Angel nodded to an elderly woman coming out of the ladies’ room, and Dimitri promised to wait for her. She ducked into the room and locked the door. It was small, but very clean, the white tile shiny. She quickly did her business then washed her hands. She studied her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were all shiny, and she looked happy.
Kade. She blamed it on Kade.
It also made her realize a very important truth.
Some of the hurt that plagued her had dissipated, leaving behind a small ounce of hope. Every minute she spent with him, that hope grew. Even when she was pissed with him, he made her happy. Lily was right. Kade fucked up. He caused her more pain than any one person should have to deal with in their lifetime, but he was also the one person who was slowly healing those wounds. She loved him. No one else had ever come close to how she felt about him.
The damn smug bastard.
He was going to get what he wanted. She laughed, letting the love she still held like a shield out from behind its wall. She loved the smug bastard. That was worth something. There was still pain there, but the joy she felt around him outweighed it. Now that she knew why he did what he did, wrong as he had been to do it and cause them both a lot of heartache, she understood it.
She was willing to give them a chance. He was still Kade, the man she fell in love with, still the same goofball who could make her laugh, still the same sexy man who made her burn with desire. It wasn’t going to be all hearts and flowers. There would be fighting, anger, shouting. They had a lot of shit to work through. But this feeling of hope inside her was worth fighting for.
She pulled out a few paper towels and dried her hands. She wasn’t going to let him know yet, though. He needed to do some major groveling. Lily was right about that as well. Smiling, she opened the door and walked out. Dimitri was standing outside the men’s room. At least she thought so at first. It wasn’t Dimitri. Same color hair, but this guy was shorter, stockier. His hair was shorter too. He was probably a waiter; he had on the same black slacks and white dress shirt.
What was taking Dimitri so long? Given his appearance, he probably spent more time than she did on his toiletries. God only knew how long he would be. She’d rejoin Kade. Hopefully, they’d get a table soon. Her stomach growled in agreement. Just as she took a step forward, the man turned, and her heart stopped.
He looked different. The cuts on his face were new, and the brown eyes regarding her were wrong, but she knew that face. It was etched into her memory. He smiled and raised his arm. He had a gun. Oh, God, he had a gun! Where was Dimitri? Had he done something to him?
She barely registered that thought when something stung her. Her hand went to her neck and pulled out a small dart. She blinked, the world going upside down, her vision blurring.
“I’ve got you, my Angel. Shh, it’s okay.”
No, she shouted, but her voice wouldn’t work. Her body was heavy. His arms wrapped around her, dragging her down the hallway toward a different door. Cold winds bit at her, the first snowflakes starting to fall. She tried to yell, to fight, but her body refused to obey. He shoved her into the car and slammed the door. The dark gray interior of the vehicle was the last thing she saw before the drugs took over and she blacked out.